Probable Frequency of High Card Content


HCP %
0 0.3639
1 0.7884
2 1.3561
3 2.4624
4 3.8454
5 5.1862
6 6.5541
7 8.0281
8 8.8922
9 9.3562
10 9.4051
11 8.9447
12 8.0269
13 6.9143
14 5.6933
15 4.4237
16 3.3109
17 2.3617
18 1.6051
19 1.0362
20 0.6435
21 0.3779
22 0.2100
23 0.1119
24 0.0559
25 0.0264
26 0.0117
27 0.0049
28 0.0019
29 0.0007
30 0.0002
31~37 0.0001

This table gives the expectancies of having specific point counts, using the 4-3-2-1 count. Note that the chances of holding exactiy one-fourth of the points -10- is the most probable, but only by a slight margin over 9. The chart also shows why many players prefer to use a lower range for an opening notrump, say 12-14, rather than the usual 15-17 or 16-18. The chance to use notrump as an opening bid comes up far more often. The chance of holding 12-14 points comes to 20.6345%, or one hand in five. The chance of holding 15-17 is only 10.0963%, or one hand in 10 - only about half as often as 12-14. Of course most of the hands with these counts will not be opened 1NT for one reason or another - usually distribution.
NT type HCP range Distribution % Bal. hand %
mini 9-11 27.7060 13.1892
10-12 26.3767 12.5564
weak 12-14 20.6345 9.8229
11-14 29.5792 14.0809
strong 15-17 10.0963 4.8063
16-18 7.2777 3.4645
2NT 20-22 1.2314 0.5862
20-21 1.0214 0.4862
22-24 0.3778 0.1798